Everything You Want To Know About the Café Terraces in Paris

Everything You Want To Know About the Café Terraces in Paris

The Parisian terrace: one of the city’s most iconic, romantic images. It is so iconic and romantic, in fact, that in 2018 the city requested UNESCO to recognize the terraces in Paris on its world heritage list! The idea is that these cafés and terraces bring people together and nurture a creative, artistic community, and they also support the idea of joie de vivre (lust for life) that is so intrinsically, delishly French. Now that warmer spring weather is descending on the city, we’ve put together some fun facts and inside tips about the terraces in Paris so that you’ll be ready to partake in this tradition once you arrive.

Some History of Terraces in Paris

Coffee has been a lively part of French life since the mid-1600s. Cafés and terraces were meeting places to discuss philosophy, share gossip and catch up on the local news. Since there were obviously no televisions or phones for most of French history, the cafés served as centers of information and socializing, and it helped that café goers could enjoy a meal and drink or two while they were there. Today, terraces are still popular meeting spots for friends, coworkers, and families, and part of the reason is that apartment and home sizes are a bit on the smaller side in Paris. Many Parisians don’t have backyards or any outdoor areas where they live, so a terrace offers the opportunity to get a bit of fresh air and meet up with friends rather than gathering in someone’s small apartment.

So how many terraces in Paris are there, exactly? Well it’s thought that if you were to spend every day of your life visiting a different café terrace, it would take you almost 30 years to see them all. All the more reason to plan that trip and get started!

Parisian Terrace Etiquette

As you can imagine, Parisian terraces are quite popular, and so they can get pretty crowded during certain times of the day. There are certain unspoken rules that make everyone’s experience a bit better as they’re sipping their late afternoon apero.

For example: on certain terraces, you may see that there are some tables set with silverware and some without. If you plan to enjoy a meal, feel free to take a table with silverware. If you’re just staying for drinks, try to grab a table without any place settings.

Next: noise levels. Terraces are meant for good times to be had, but anyone being overly loud or boisterous may be asked to leave. Also, if you’re with a big group, it’s always polite to ask the servers for assistance before seating yourselves. It’s generally frowned upon to try to rearrange the tables yourself to accommodate your party, but a server would be happy to help you do so.

Next: smoking. Smoking is allowed on terraces, and if you decide to partake, it’s customary to make sure you aren’t blowing smoke on the table next to you, even if they are smoking as well. If you’re bothered by smoke fumes, it may be best to head inside the café or try the terrace during a less busy hour.

And now for a tip! You may have noticed that many terraces have chairs that are facing the street. These are preferable to chairs facing away from the street, as people-watching is part of the whole terrace experience. This means that rather than sitting face to face, across the table from your companion like you may be used to, it’s customary to sit side-by-side instead. The street is your stage, so make sure you don’t have your back to it!

Where are the best terraces in Paris?

The beautiful thing about terrace culture in Paris is that there are terraces everywhere. Every neighborhood has a few bustling options to choose from. If you’re looking for terraces that are particularly popular or have some historical significance, here are a few:

Café de la Paix — Located in the shadow of the beautiful Opera Garnier, this café is so elegant and ornate that it almost looks like a miniature version of the opera. Like Les Deux Magots, this café was frequented by famous writers like Guy de Maupassant and Emile Zola.

La Closerie de Lilas — Choosing a table is half the fun here: the tables are named after some of this café‘s more famous guests, like Oscar Wilde and Paul Cézanne. Plus, there’s a piano bar! (Nearby Paris Perfect rentals: Montplaisir, Cerons)

Terraces in the Place des Vosges — As you wander through Place des Vosges, one of Paris’ many historic and charming squares, you’ll notice that it’s lined with terraces on almost every side. Stop by a few times during your visit and try a different terrace each time! (Nearby Paris Perfect rentals: La Musique, Lascombes)

Our reservation team can help you find the perfect apartment near one of these fabulous terraces in Paris. Give us a call at 1-888-520-2087 from the USA or email reservations@parisperfect.com.

TRIP NOW

MOTORCYCLE RENTAL

Instagram

Recent Articles

Frontline health workers are upset they need to pay for parking again. Last month many hospitals waived parking fees for their staff after healthcare workers voiced concerns over taking public transit during the pandemic. But as of June 1, Alik Rosenfeld and his wife both noticed that the hospitals which they work at resumed charging for parking. "I…

A day trip from Toronto may be the closest thing resembling vacation plans this summer. And for most of us who are itching to go somewhere ­— anywhere ­— in the months ahead, that'll do. Lucky for us, there's an abundance of great destinations just a short distance from the city. Though things are slowly…

Toronto restaurants that have been around for decades are shutting down during the pandemic, and one that's been around for a quarter of a century, The Rebel House, is warning it may not last the summer. The Rebel House wrote a heartfelt message on one of their windows reading, "The Rebel House appreciates any takeout…

Turkish Airlines is delighted to announce that the flights from Ireland will resume on Wednesday the 24th of June with twice weekly flights. Flight No Start End Days Origin Scheduled Time of Departure Scheduled Time of Arrival Destination TK1975 24 JUN 28JUN ..3…7 IST 08:10 10:45 DUB TK1976 24JUN 28JUN ..3…7 DUB 12:25 18:50…

More flights for passengers will be available from 15th June between Dubai and 16 cities: Dublin, Bahrain, Manchester, Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, New York JFK, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Hong Kong, Perth and Brisbane Travellers flying between Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas can connect safely and efficiently through Dubai Travel restrictions remain in…